Title GV, Government Code

Sec. 501.005. LITERACY PROGRAMS. (a) The institutional division shall establish a program to teach reading to functionally illiterate inmates housed in facilities operated by the division. The institutional division shall allow an inmate who is capable of serving as a tutor to tu…

Sec. 501.0051. RECEIPT OF BOOKS BY MAIL. (a) The department shall establish a policy that permits an inmate to receive by mail reference books and other educational materials from a volunteer organization that operates programs described by Section 501.009, regardless of whether …

Sec. 501.006. EMERGENCY ABSENCE. (a) The institutional division may grant an emergency absence under escort to an inmate so that the inmate may: (1) obtain a medical diagnosis or medical treatment; (2) obtain treatment and supervision at a facility operated by the Health and Huma…

Sec. 501.007. INMATE CLAIMS FOR LOST OR DAMAGED PROPERTY. The department may pay from the miscellaneous funds appropriated to the division claims made by inmates housed in facilities operated by the department for property lost or damaged by the division. The department shall mai…

Sec. 501.008. INMATE GRIEVANCE SYSTEM. (a) The department shall develop and maintain a system for the resolution of grievances by inmates housed in facilities operated by the department or under contract with the department that qualifies for certification under 42 U.S.C. Section…

Sec. 501.0081. DISPUTE RESOLUTION: TIME-SERVED CREDITS. (a) The department shall develop a system that allows resolution of a complaint by an inmate who alleges that time credited on the inmate's sentence is in error and does not accurately reflect the amount of time-served credi…

Sec. 501.009. VOLUNTEER AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. (a) The department shall adopt a policy that requires department staff to identify volunteer and faith-based organizations that provide programs for inmates housed in facilities operated by the department. The policy must req…

Sec. 501.010. VISITORS. (a) In this section: (1) "Guardian" has the meaning assigned by Section 1002.012, Estates Code. (2) "Letters of guardianship" means a certificate issued under Section 1106.001(a), Estates Code. (a-1) The institutional division shall allow the governor, mem…

Sec. 501.011. ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY. (a) The department shall adopt a zero-tolerance policy concerning the detection, prevention, and punishment of the sexual abuse, including consensual sexual contact, of inmates in the custody of the department. (b) The department shall establi…

Sec. 501.012. FAMILY LIAISON OFFICER. The director of the institutional division shall designate one employee at each facility operated by the institutional division to serve as family liaison officer for that facility. The family liaison officer shall facilitate the maintenance …

Sec. 501.013. MATERIALS USED FOR ARTS AND CRAFTS. (a) The institutional division may purchase materials to be used by inmates housed in facilities operated by the division to produce arts and crafts. (b) The institutional division may allow an inmate housed in a facility operated…

Sec. 501.014. INMATE MONEY. (a) The department shall take possession of all money that an inmate has on the inmate's person or that is received with the inmate when the inmate arrives at a facility to be admitted to the custody of the department and all money the inmate receives …

Sec. 501.015. PROVIDING DISCHARGED OR RELEASED INMATE WITH CLOTHING AND MONEY; BURIAL EXPENSES. (a) When an inmate is discharged or is released on parole, mandatory supervision, or conditional pardon, the department shall provide the inmate with: (1) suitable civilian clothing; (…

Sec. 501.0155. PROVIDING DISCHARGED OR RELEASED INMATE WITH DOCUMENTATION FOR EMPLOYMENT. When an inmate who is able to work, as determined by the department based on the inmate's age or mental or physical condition, is discharged or released on parole, mandatory supervision, or …

Sec. 501.016. DISCHARGE OR RELEASE PAPERS; RELEASE DATE. (a) The department shall prepare and provide an inmate with the inmate's discharge or release papers when the inmate is entitled to be discharged or to be released on parole, mandatory supervision, or conditional pardon. Th…

Sec. 501.0165. STATE-ISSUED IDENTIFICATION; NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION. (a) Before discharging an inmate or releasing an inmate on parole, mandatory supervision, or conditional pardon, the department shall: (1) determine whether the inmate has: (A) a valid license issued under Chapt…

Sec. 501.0166. PROVIDING DISCHARGED OR RELEASED INMATE WITH BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND SOCIAL SECURITY CARD. (a) In addition to complying with the requirements of Section 501.0165 regarding a license or personal identification certificate for an inmate being discharged or released on …

Sec. 501.017. COST OF CONFINEMENT AS CLAIM. (a) The department may establish a claim and lien against the estate of an inmate who dies while confined in a facility operated by or under contract with the department for the cost to the department of the inmate's confinement. (b) Th…

Sec. 501.019. COST OF CONFINEMENT AS CLAIM; SETOFF. (a) The state may deduct from any monetary obligation owed to an incarcerated person: (1) the cost of incarceration, if a cost of incarceration for the person can be computed; and (2) any amount assessed against the person under…

Sec. 501.021. USE OF INMATES IN TRAINING PROHIBITED. The department may not use an inmate in a program that trains dogs to attack individuals without the inmate's permission. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 321, Sec. 1.085, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 501.0215. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR PREGNANT INMATES. The department shall develop and provide to each pregnant inmate educational programming relating to pregnancy and parenting. The programming must include instruction regarding: (1) appropriate prenatal care and hygiene…

Sec. 501.022. INFANT CARE AND PARENTING. The department shall implement a residential infant care and parenting program for mothers who are confined by the department. To the extent practicable, the department shall model the program after the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Mothers a…

Sec. 501.023. INFORMATION CONCERNING FOSTER CARE HISTORY. (a) The department, during the diagnostic process, shall assess each inmate with respect to whether the inmate has at any time been in the conservatorship of a state agency responsible for providing child protective servic…

Sec. 501.024. VERIFICATION OF INMATE VETERAN STATUS. (a) The department, during the diagnostic process, shall record information relating to an inmate's military history in the inmate's admission sheet and intake screening form, or any other similar document. (b) The department s…

Sec. 501.025. VETERANS SERVICES COORDINATOR. (a) The department shall establish a veterans services coordinator to coordinate responses to the needs of veterans under the supervision of the department, including veterans who are released on parole or mandatory supervision. The ve…

Sec. 501.026. LIMITATION ON CERTAIN SEARCHES. The department shall adopt a policy regarding a search of any room or other area that occurs while a female inmate who is not fully clothed is present in the room or area. The policy must: (1) require that the search be conducted by a…

Sec. 501.027. ACCESS TO PROGRAMS BY FEMALE INMATES. (a) The department shall develop and implement policies that increase and promote a female inmate's access to programs offered to inmates in the custody of the department, including educational, vocational, substance use treatme…

Sec. 501.051. MEDICAL FACILITIES AT UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH. (a) The medical facility constructed by the institutional division at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston shall be used as a teaching facility and be limited to patients who are teaching patie…

Sec. 501.0515. PROCEDURES FOR TRANSPORTATION OF FEMALE INMATES FOR MEDICAL CARE. The department shall establish procedures to be used during the regularly scheduled transportation of female inmates for nonemergency medical care to The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galvest…

Sec. 501.052. MEDICAL RESIDENCIES. The department may establish a residency program or a rotation program to employ or train physicians to treat inmates in the department. Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 212, Sec. 2.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Renumbered from Sec. 500.052 and amen…

Sec. 501.053. REPORTS OF PHYSICIAN MISCONDUCT. (a) If the department receives an allegation that a physician employed or under contract with the department has committed an action that constitutes a ground for the denial or revocation of the physician's license under Section 164.…

Sec. 501.054. AIDS AND HIV EDUCATION; TESTING. (a) In this section, "AIDS," "HIV," and "test result" have the meanings assigned by Section 81.101, Health and Safety Code. (b) The department, in consultation with the Texas Department of Health, shall establish education programs t…

Sec. 501.055. REPORT OF INMATE DEATH. (a) If an inmate dies while in the custody of the department, an employee of the facility who is in charge of the inmate shall immediately notify the nearest justice of the peace serving in the county in which the inmate died and the office o…

Sec. 501.0551. ANATOMICAL GIFTS. (a) The department, during the diagnostic process, shall provide each inmate with a form on which the inmate may indicate whether the inmate wishes to be an eye, tissue, or organ donor if the inmate dies while in the custody of the department. (b)…

Sec. 501.056. CONTRACT FOR CARE OF INMATES WITH MENTAL ILLNESS OR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY. The department shall contract with the Health and Human Services Commission for provision of commission facilities, treatment, and habilitation for inmates with mental illness or an intelle…

Sec. 501.057. CIVIL COMMITMENT BEFORE PAROLE. (a) The department shall establish a system to identify inmates with mental illness who are nearing eligibility for release on parole. (b) Not later than the 30th day before the initial parole eligibility date of an inmate identified …

Sec. 501.058. COMPENSATION OF PSYCHIATRISTS. The amount of compensation paid by the institutional division to psychiatrists employed by the division should be similar to the amount of compensation authorized for the Health and Human Services Commission to pay to psychiatrists. Ad…

Sec. 501.059. SCREENING FOR AND EDUCATION CONCERNING FETAL ALCOHOL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY. (a) The department shall establish a screening program to identify female inmates who are: (1) between the ages of 18 and 44; (2) sentenced to a term of confinement not to exceed two yea…

Sec. 501.060. TUBERCULOSIS SCREENING. (a) The board will establish requirements for tuberculosis screening of department employees and volunteers in a manner similar to that established for jail employees and volunteers as outlined in Subchapter B, Chapter 89, Health and Safety C…

Sec. 501.061. ORCHIECTOMY FOR CERTAIN SEX OFFENDERS. (a) A physician employed or retained by the department may perform an orchiectomy on an inmate only if: (1) the inmate has been convicted of an offense under Section 21.02, 21.11, 22.011(a)(2), or 22.021(a)(2)(B), Penal Code, a…

Sec. 501.062. STUDY OF RATE OF RECIDIVISM AMONG SEX OFFENDERS. (a) The department shall conduct a long-term study, for at least 10 years after the date an orchiectomy is performed under Section 501.061, to measure the rate of recidivism among inmates who undergo the procedure. (b…

Sec. 501.063. INMATE FEE FOR HEALTH CARE. (a)(1) An inmate confined in a facility operated by or under contract with the department, other than a halfway house, who initiates a visit to a health care provider shall pay a health care services fee to the department in the amount of…

Sec. 501.064. AVAILABILITY OF CORRECTIONAL HEALTH CARE INFORMATION TO INMATES. The department shall ensure that the following information is available to any inmate confined in a facility operated by or under contract with the department: (1) a description of the level, type, and…

Sec. 501.065. CONSENT TO MEDICAL, DENTAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SURGICAL TREATMENT. An inmate who is younger than 18 years of age and is confined in a facility operated by or under contract with the department may, in accordance with procedures established by the department, consent…

Sec. 501.066. RESTRAINT OF PREGNANT INMATE OR DEFENDANT. (a) The department may not place restraints around the ankles, legs, or waist of a pregnant woman in the custody of the department at any time after the woman's pregnancy has been confirmed by a medical professional, unless…

Sec. 501.0665. CERTAIN INVASIVE SEARCHES PROHIBITED. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), any invasive body cavity search of a pregnant inmate shall be conducted by a medical professional. (b) A correctional officer may conduct an invasive body cavity search of a pregnant in…